Artificial intelligence model developer World Labs Inc. today announced that it has raised $1 billion in funding.

The capital was provided by a consortium that included Nvidia Corp., Advanced Micro Devices Inc., Autodesk Inc. and several others. The engineering software maker invested $200 million. Autodesk’s cash infusion will lay groundwork for an AI research collaboration with World Labs.

World Labs was founded in 2024 by pioneering AI researcher Fei-Fei Li. It raised about $230 million in funding before today’s round. The company develops world models, neural networks that generate interactive three-dimensional virtual environments.

World Labs debuted its first AI model in November. Marble, as the algorithm is called, can generate 3D environments based on user-provided text, images and videos. A tool called Chisel makes it possible to refine those environments after they’re generated by entering natural language instructions.

According to World Labs, one of the use cases to which Marble can be applied is robotics software development. Many robots are powered by onboard AI models. Those models, in turn, are usually trained in a simulated version of the environment where their host robots are deployed. Marble can generate a virtual replica of a robot’s operating environment and export it to third-party simulation software.

A job posting indicates that World Labs plans to increase its focus on the robotics market in the wake of its new funding round. The company is seeking a research engineer who can help it build SLAM, or simultaneous localization and mapping, systems. SLAM is a navigation technique that robots use to find their way around unfamiliar environments.

World Labs has also an opening for a 3D reconstruction specialist. Robots use 3D reconstruction software to assemble data collected by their sensors into maps. Such maps are an important component of SLAM systems. A third job posting states that World Labs is developing world models that can “generate, reason, and interact with the 3D world.”

Autodesk plans to collaborate with the company at the “research and model level.” According to TechCrunch, the partnership could see the software giant integrate World Labs into its portfolio of engineering and design tools. Autodesk’s software is used for, among other tasks, programming industrial robots.

The partnership will initially focus on entertainment use cases. Media and entertainment companies use Autodesk’s design tools to create visual assets such as special effects. World Labs’ inaugural Marble model can automate some of the manual work involved in such projects.

The company’s raise comes a few days after another world model startup called Runway Inc. closed a $315 million investment of its own. That round also included contributions from Nvidia and AMD. Runway’s newest model, GWM-1, enables robotics companies to test their AI software in simulations.

Image: World Labs